The British Journal of Psychiatry 152: 45-47 (1988)
© 1988 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Psychiatric liaison referrals of elderly in-patients in a teaching hospital
AM Poynton
United Medical School, Guy's Hospital, London.
A retrospective review of 131 psychiatric referrals of hospital in-
patients aged 65 years and older was made to examine the referral rate, the
characteristics of referred patients, and the pattern of diagnoses and
recommendations made by the psychiatrist. The referral rate was much less
than the estimated prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in similar
populations. The majority of referrals received a psychiatric diagnosis,
most commonly an organic psychiatric syndrome (37%) or depression (23%).
Comparison of various aspects of referral for the periods before and after
the introduction of a specific psychiatric liaison service for the elderly
showed little change apart from a small increase in referral rate.